Operating valve



March 18, 1952 v. FRANTZ OPERATING VALVE Filed Jan. 16, 1947 Vues/L Hem/TZ www ` if www Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPERATING VALVE Virgil L. Frantz, Roanoke, Va.

Application January 16, 1947, Serial No. 722,383

11 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to an operating valve and more particularly to a type thereof adaptedk for use in a sanding mechanism of a railway locomotive.

An object of the present invention is the 'provision of an improved operating valve arranged through the movement of a single part thereof to successively limit at the valve the volume of air used both for the clean-out blast and the sanding operation blast.

An added object of the invention is the provision of an improved arrangement of piping and valves in a sanding mechanism thereby eliminating numerous sections of pipes or a number of valves heretofore required.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved operating valve having orifices of' diiferent sizes to effect different operations of a sanding mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in a sanding mechanism, of the removal of an operating valve from a sand trap thereby simplifying the construction of the sand trap.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved operating valve having double ports each leading to a sand trap and a plurality of orifices for admitting both clean-out and sanding operation blasts to each of the double ports. v

The above and numerous other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1' is a schematic view of a sanding mechanism embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of an operating valve adapted for use in a sanding mechanism.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of a modication of the operating valve shown in Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner, an illustrative sanding mechanism designed to be employed in diesel engines for railroads but of course need not be so limited. The usual wheel arrangement for wheels of the engine types comprisesa plurality of pairs of drivers 2 and 3, 4 and 5. Each pair of drivers is provided with a set of sand trapsv 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a having sand supplied thereto vfrom a source of supply (not shown) and suitable con- .duits Ii leading therefrom to convey sandl tothe rails 'I adjacent to the respective drivers. The

sand traps may, if desired, be in accordance with the teachings of my'patent application Serial No.

709,224, filed November 12, 1946, now abandoned, 5 because such sand traps are now being currently used in a mechanism of the present invention.

Joining related sand traps is a uid pressure supply line 2b, 3b, 4b and 5b with each line having interposed therein between its ends an oper- =ating valve 2c, 3c, 4c and 5c. The operating valve is shown in cross-section and more detail in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing and is to be considered more in detail hereinafter but for the present it is deemed more advisable to continue with a complete description of the circuit and -components of th'e sanding mechanism. The operating valves related with the supply lines 2b and 3b and the operating valves related with the supply lines 4b and 5b are joined or connected i together by fluid pressure actuating lines 8 and 9 respectively so that when fluid pressure is sent through the actuating line 8 the drivers 2 and 3 will be sanded in a forward direction and when fluid pressure is sent through the actuating line 9 the drivers 4 and 5 will be sanded in a back-up direction. Removed from the arrangement thus far described is a control valve I0 having leading therefrom a pair of feed lines 8a and 9a which communicate with the actuating lines 8 and 9 respectively so that upon a proper manipulation of the control valve, which is in direct communication with a reservoir of fiuid pressure, iiuidpressure can be delivered to either of the feed lines.

A11 of the above has been more or less of a suitable background for a proper understanding of the purpose and mechanics of the operating valve which actually forms the basis for the present application. Accordingly, by referring now to Figure 2 particularly the operating valve, of which four in number are employed in the illustrative arrangement of Figure 1, comprises a casing or housing II having an upper enlarged cylindrical head piece I2 and a relatively smaller lower cylindrical tail piece i3. Threadably mounted on the head piece is a cap or closure member I4 being suitably apertured for the reception of an end of the actuating lines 8 or 9 and for the introduction or admission of uid pressure to the related port of the casing. Formed in an upper part of the head piece is a cylindrical wall Ill opening upwardly toward the cap. Disposed within the cylindrical wall is a main piston head I5 of a compound or diiferential valve member I6 with the main piston carrying a suitable gasket cr cap I7 to arrest the passage of huid pressure therebeyond. The tail piece I3 is provided with a cylindrical cavity I8 which is closed at one end by a removable plug IS which may be provided with a sealing ring interposed between the plug and casing to form a leak-proof joint therebetween. Positioned at one end of the cylindrical cavity is a relatively small cr auxiliary valve head 2i arranged to normally bear against a valve seat 22 formed in the casing and facing toward the cavity to present a bearing area against which the auxiliary valve head may rest to, during certain operating conditions, prevent the passage of fluid pressure from the cavity beyond the auxiliary valve head.

Outstanding from the auxiliary valve head, axially of the valve is a shank 23 having at its free end a. spring plate 24 arranged `to move freely within the cylindrical cavity. Interposed between the spring -vplate'fand the plug I9 is a compressible element or Icoilforh'elical spring 25 arranged -to allow the valvetdmove iniadirection toward the 'plug as well as 4augment the vaction of theuid pressure against lthel'exposed face of the auxiliary yhead duringcert'ain operations of the valve. An inlet iport 12.5"is' `provided in the tail piece to be .incommunication with the'cavity I8 and this porthasas'sociated therewith a conduit'2'! (see Figure l)` which is in direct communication kwitha iconsta'nt'source of fluid pressure supply preferablyfthe'main reservoir. yIn this lmanner 'the cavity Vatall times charged with nuid pressurev for the purpose to be made hereinafter apparent.

Between the cylinderY cavity I4 and cylindrical cavity I8 the casingis 'formed with a somewhat stepped 'cylindrical interior `chamber 29 vfor 'the accommodation of 'a -valve stem 30. The valve stem'is .purposely Yand desirably formed of different cross-sectional area and -thereby presenting a guiding or relatively large base 3| merging with a spacer or relativelyv small neck 32. .As indicated above, the base-f3l is yguidingly received by the casing to define l'the path along which the valve member will travel in service. The valve stem, preferably joiningintegrally the main piston and -auxiliary head, is arranged during certain operations to slide axially -of the casing and since -the shouldered lower part of the casing presents'a sloping or Afrusto-conical seat^33 which may hereinafter .be termed the stern seat, the stem base is arranged tocometo rest against the stem seat .to limit the movement of the valve and cut off the passage of uid'pressure beyond the plane ofthe valve seat.

Spaced on opposite sides of the stem and at a location between the piston ychamber I5 and the cylindrical Ycavity I8, are a pair of chambers @il arranged to communicate directly through suitable ports with the supply lines 2b, 3b, 'o or 5b depending upon the particular location of the operating valve in the arrangement (see Figure l). These chambers which are desirably cored in the casing, each have leading therefrom to the interior of the casing a relatively large orifice or opening 36 which may be hereinafter termed the clean-out blast opening or orifice. These clean-out blast Yorifices are preferably and intentionally located to one side cf the valve stem seat so that as the stem comes to rest against itsseatvfluid pressure will be cut oif Vfrom the clean-out blast orifices. Disposed adjacent 'to the clean-out blast orifices are drillings .or cored relatively Vsmaller orifices 31 also diametrically disposed and leading to the interior of the casing. These smaller orifices are provided with plugs or screws 38 each of which have formed therein, cross ports or drillings 39 so that a restricted amount of fluid pressure may pass from the interior of the casing. through the smaller orifices and cross drillings into the related chamber to find its way to the fluid pressure supply lines 2b, 3h, 4b or 5b to effect a sanding operation.

The operation of the thus described arrangement is as follows: If it is desired to sand before the drivers 2 and 3 the operator will shift the control valve so as to permit fluid pressure to Apass from the source of supply through the feed line Ba to the actuating line B and enter the piston cavities I5. This pressure against the piston or valve head I5 will cause the valve to move downwardly, the area of the piston I 5 times the pressure being sufficient to cause a positive movement of the auxiliary valve head EI. As soon as the auxiliary valve heads are unseated the iuid pressure lwithin the `cavity E58 will pass therebeyond to surgeinto the chambers through the orifices and thus to the supply linesrb and v319. This temporary 'or limited surge of fluid pressure will enter the -sand traps .to effect -a clean-out operation and awillcontinue until the stem base comes to rest -upon 'its' seat. lAt this time fluid pressure will be Acuto'ff from the cleanout blast orices leaving only .the '.smal'lscpen- Vings and cross .drillings for Lthe paseag'elof iuid pressure Yinto .the chambers'. This restrictioniin the flow of Yfluid pressure will `effect a Vsanding operation which of course lw'ill carry sand out of the traps 2a and 3a through the 'related conduits B on tothe rails adjacent Ito and forwardly of the forward drivers. As soon fas `the control valve is manipulated to cut off the vfluid pnessure from the actuating line 8 and this line `is bled, the pressure against the auxiliary 'head ?2.I will again seat the auxiliary head konits seat 22. The upward movement of the valve member opening the ports 36 'and permitting'a clean-out blast'to be transmitted to the sand traps. As will be appreciated, the part of the mechanism forsanding before the back-up drivers is Vbroughtinto play by a like manner only in this `case the control valve is manipulated so as to-chargethe feed line 9a and actuating line 9,. f

By referring now in detail-to VFigure 3 or the drawing it will be noted that this modification of the operating -valve issubstantiallyidentical with the operating valve shownin Figure -2 and described in detail herein-above excepting-that the screws 38 of the previously describedconstruction are dispensed with and the casing is formed with apair -of small oriicespr drillings d0 leading 'directly'from thej interior-M -of the casing to the chambers 42 to effect a sanding operation. This casingis further yprovided with solid plugs 43 which prevent lthe escape of fluid pressure from the chambers through the tapped plus accommodating Vchenilles. 44. These-latter openings serve two'functionavone, fOr'thefinser.

tion of a -tool to'form the orices-llilandtwo, to allow clean-out of openings 4Q if sarnezshou become clogged by pipe s caleforotheygfc member within said casing and provided with a large and a small head, said small head being arranged to'be displaced from normal position away from a seat to admit the compressed iluid into the space between the lowermost head and the adjacentl stemv of the valve member, a stem of different cross-section connecting said heads, a chamber in said casing, an outlet leading from said chamber to the exterior of said casing, orices of different size leading from adjacent said stem to said chamber, and a face of said valve member adjacent the stem thereof being arranged to contact a seat to cut off communication to one of said orifices.

2. In an operating valve for use in a sanding mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a valve member within said casing and provided with a large and a small head, a spring acting against said small head and the latter being arranged to be displaced from normal position away from a seat to admit fluid pressure therebeyond, a stem connecting said heads, a chamber in saidvcasing i intermediate said valve heads, an outlet communicating with said chamber, and orifices of dilferent size leading from an interior of said casing to said chamber, another face of said valve member being arranged to Contact another seat to cut off communication to one set of said oriiices.

3. In an operating valve for use in a sandingv mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a valve member within said casing and provided with a large and a small head, said casing having a chamber therein intermediate said valve heads, a spring acting against said small head and the latter being arranged to be displaced from normal position away from a normally engaged seat to admit fluid pressure into said chamber, a stem connecting said heads a portion of said stem being adapted to contact a seat to cut off the flo-w f of fluid past said portion, an outlet communicating with said chamber, an orifice leading from the interior of said casing into said chamber, a second orifice spaced from said first named orice and a removable plug carrying an orice smaller than said rst named orifice and entering said second named orice and leading from, said interior of said casing into said chamber, and an enlarged portion on said stem arranged to contact another seat to cut off passage of fluid pressure through said first named orice.

4. In an operating valve for use in a sanding mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a valve member within said casing and provided with a large and a small head, a stem provided with portions of different cross-section connecting said heads, one of said portions forming a guide for said valve, a chamber in said casing intermediate said heads, a port leading from said chamber, an orifice connecting said chamber and an interior of said casing, an orifice smaller than said first named orifice, and said second named orifice formed as a drilling in said casing and connecting said chamber and said casing interior; said stem being arranged to slide in said casing and allow the fluid to pass beyond said small valve head to the casing interior and through both orifices; said stem being further arranged on further movement in the same direction to cut off the ow of fluid pressure through said iirst named orifice.

5. In an operating valve for use in a sanding mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a valve member within said casing and provided with a large and a small head, a stem joining said heads and having ashouldered portion intermediateits ends,I oppositely disposed exhaust ports'in said casing, oppositely disposed chambers in said casing leading to said exhaust ports, oppositely directed oriiioes leading from an interior of said casing into said chambers, oppositely directed restricted orifices leading from said casing interior into said chambers, and a seat formed in said casing between said first and second named orifices; said small head being arranged tobe displaced from a seat to permit the passage of fluid pressure therebeyond through all ofisaid orifices; chambersand ports, and said shouldered stem being arranged to contact said rst named seat for arresting the flo-w of fluid pressure through said first named orifices.

6. In an operating valve for use in a sanding mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a valve member within said casing and provided with a large and a small head, a spring acting against said small head, a stem joining said heads and having a shouldered portion intermediate said heads, ports in said casing, chambers in said oasing leading to said ports, orices leading from an interior of said casing into said chambers, restricted orifices leading from said casing interior into said chambers, and a seat formed in said casing between said rst and second named orifices; said small head being arranged to be displaced from a second seat from normal position to permit the passage of fluid pressure therebeyond through all of said orifices, chambers and ports, and said shouldered stem being arranged to contact said rst named seat for arresting the iiow of :duid pressure through said first named orifices.

7. In an operating valve member lfor use in railway sanding mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a diiferential valve within said casing,

a piston stem interposed between the ends of said valve, a clean-out orifice adjacent said stem and adapted to be closed by a movement of said stem in one direction against a seat, and means adja- Cent said stem to permit a limited flow of air for sanding through another orice when said cleanout orifice is closed.

8. In an operating valve for use in a railway sanding mechanism, the combination of, a casing, a plurality of outlets in said casing, an intake opening within said casing, a diiferential valve member within said casing adapted, upon movement of said valve in one direction, to provide for admission of air to each of said outlets, and means within said casing for limiting the flow of admitted air to each of said outlets when said valve has completed its movement in one direcion.

9. In a sanding mechanism, the combination of, an operating valve, a single air line leading from said operating valve for effecting a cleanout blast and a sanding operation of air to a sand trap in a valve member, an inlet port in said valve member for admission of a constant source of air pressure, a clean-out blast orice and a restricted sanding orifice in said valve member and communicating with said constant source of pressure, and a differential valve head in said valve member for selectively allowing air to pass through b oth orices during movement of said differential valve away from one valve seat from normal position and allowing air to pass through only said restricted sanding orifice while contacting another valve seat when said differential valve has reached the end of its travel from normal position.

v10.5.1411 voperating valve for use in a sanding meehanism, the 'combination of, a casing, a valve lmember movably mounted Within said casing, said lmember Vcomprising two valve heads of different diameters and a third head depending from the .smaller of said first named heads, .a seat for said third head, aclean-out .blast orice in said fcasing and a restricted opening leading from said casing into said orifice, the initial .movement of said valve member in onedirecton causing -a simultaneous opening of `said :orifice and said restricted .opening to admituid pressure thereto, the subsequent movement-1of-said member closing said prince, and -means for lcausing said fluid pressure to flow through said :restricted opening. Y

j1`1. .In .a "fluid operating valve, the combination of, a casing, a valve member within said casingand provided with Valarge vand 'small piston heads, a'stem -connectingsaid headsto form said 20 valvemember, said .casing having anorice adj acent the .space intermediate 'said heads, means yfor 4admitting; :fluid pressure to one side vof `said large piston headto :movezthe 'same-in `one direction, fluid pressure `means reacting against -sa'id small head at all times, .said head :permitting lthe passage of fluid pressure .tov'said orice'whenfsaid head is moved `from normalposition, and fmeans carried by said stem adapted upon movement =of said valve member to close said orifice.

REFERENCES `(ADI'IJID The Yfollowing .references are of 4recprd .inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

